karzai. they reported progress in their talks, and said the pace of the security transition will be expedited. at their first face-to-face meeting since may, the leaders announced they're accelerating the handoff from u.s. and coalition forces to afghan troops. >> let me say it as plainly as i can-- starting this spring, our troops will have a different mission: training, advising, assisting afghan forces. it will be an historic moment and another step toward full afghan sovereignty. >> in spring this year, the afghan forces will be fully responsible for providing security to the afghan people. and that the international forces, the american forces, will be no longer present in afghan villages. >> woodruff: afghanistan president hamid karzai has sharply complained that fighting in afghan villages is causing too many civilian casualties. and there've been other strains from koran burnings by american soldiers to deadly insider attacks by afghan soldiers. for now, the u.s. still has 66,000 troo